'Deeper' by Robin York Release Day Launch

We are extremely excited to tell you that Robin York's DEEPER has finally been released! DEEPER is a New Adult contemporary romance being published by Random House’s Bantam imprint and is the 1^st novel in Robin York’s Caroline and West Series. This book is an absolute must read!  

DEEPER Synopsis:

In this New Adult debut by Robin York, a college student is attacked online and must restore her name—and stay clear of a guy who’s wrong for her, but feels so right.

When Caroline Piasecki’s ex-boyfriend posts their sex pictures on the Internet, it destroys her reputation as a nice college girl. Suddenly her once-promising future doesn’t look so bright. Caroline tries to make the pictures disappear, hoping time will bury her shame. Then a guy she barely knows rises to her defense and punches her ex to the ground.

West Leavitt is the last person Caroline needs in her life. Everyone knows he’s shady. Still, Caroline is drawn to his confidence and swagger—even after promising her dad she’ll keep her distance. On late, sleepless nights, Caroline starts wandering into the bakery where West works.

hey hang out, they talk, they listen. Though Caroline and West tell each other they’re “just friends,” their feelings intensify until it becomes impossible to pretend. The more complicated her relationship with West gets, the harder Caroline has to struggle to discover what she wants for herself—and the easier it becomes to find the courage she needs to fight back against the people who would judge her.

When all seems lost, sometimes the only place to go is deeper.

Advance praise for DEEPER:

 “The perfect new adult story . . . West will make you swoon!”—New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy 

 “Beautifully written and full of swoony tender moments, toe-curling chemistry, and delicious, twisty angst . . . Stop whatever you’re doing and read this book.”—Christina Lauren, author of the Beautiful Bastard series  

Excerpt: Meet West (from Caroline’s POV)

West’s eyes go wide. “Jesus, Caroline, did I hit you?” 

He stands, stepping close, reaching for me. It’s as if he completely forgets he’s beating the shit out of Nate, and he just comes for me. The look in his eyes, the outstretched hand—it’s so much like the first time West reached for me, more than a year ago, that I have a moment of déjà vu. My knees buckle, which annoys me. My body is the enemy right now—my incompetent knees, that noise my throat decided to make, my leaking nose, and the pounding pain in my face. 

Not to mention my heart, which is trying to escape my chest by flinging itself violently against my ribs. 

West’s hand lands on my waist, steady and firm, and it’s stupid. My body is stupid. Because his hand feels kind of awesome. 

Obviously I’m concussed. West is the one who hit me, probably, and he’s definitely the one who hit Nate, who— 

Fuck. 

Nate is sprawled out on the floor, bleeding from the mouth. 

Worse, I can’t really bring myself to focus on Nate, because West’s other hand landed on my shoulder briefly, and now he’s lifting my chin. The blood makes his fingers slippery. I’m bleeding on him. And I like it.

This happens with West. He’s only touched me once before, but it isn’t the kind of thing a girl forgets. 

God, there are so many, many reasons this is not good, though. Most of them aren’t even health-related. For starters, I’m not into guys who punch people. I’m not into guys at the moment, period. And if I were, I wouldn’t be into West, because West is trouble, and I’m allergic. 

“You’re bleeding,” he says. 

“You hit me.” 

“Let me see.” 

He tugs at my wrist, and I let him drag my hand away from my nose, because basically I will let West Leavitt do anything. It’s possible that he’s some kind of magical creature. I mean, he’s not. I know he’s not. He’s a twenty-year-old sophomore at Putnam College, majoring in biology. He shelves books at the library, waits tables on weekends at the Gilded Pear—which is the only fancy restaurant in Putnam—and works the overnight shift at the bakery in town. All that on top of at least a couple of shady, unofficial sources of income, plus classes, makes him a busy guy. 

He’s tall—around six feet, maybe a little taller—with messy brown hair, light blue-green eyes, and a great tan. 

He’s a guy who goes to my college. That’s all. 

But that is not all. 

His face is . . . You know how they say human beings are more attracted to symmetrical faces? Well, West’s face is slightly off in every conceivable way. One of his eyebrows tilts up a little bit, and the other one is bisected by a thin white scar. His eyes are a color that isn’t actually a color, with these tiny little flecks that sometimes look shiny, and I don’t understand how that’s possible. His mouth is wider than it ought to be, which makes him look like a smart-ass every time he smiles or almost smiles or thinks, vaguely, about smiling. His nose must have been broken once—or maybe more than once—because it’s not quite where it’s supposed to be. It’s shifted a titch to the left. And honestly? I think his ears are too small. 

When he looks right at me, I can barely make words. 

That’s why I’m standing here, bleeding, letting him inspect my nose.  

  Order Links:

Amazon \ Barnes and Noble 

Robin York Bio:

 Robin York grew up at a college, went to college, signed on for some more college, and then married a university professor. She still isn’t sure why it didn’t occur to her to write New Adult sooner. Writing as Ruthie Knox, she is a USA TODAY bestselling author of contemporary romance, including RITA-finalistsAbout Last Night and Room at the Inn. She moonlights as a mother, makes killer salted caramels, and sorts out thorny plot problems while running, hiking, or riding her bike.

Links:
 Website: http://www.ruthieknox.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobinYorkNA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writerrobinyork
Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7279470.Robin_York
DEEPER Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18525821-deeper?ac=1
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Robin-York/e/B00G194QRC/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1   

   a Rafflecopter giveaway

'Mulligan' by Olivia Black

About Mulligan:

Julia Grove was a success in her career. She had a plan, and she executed it brilliantly. But Julie suddenly falls ill and questions the true meaning of success. Was giving up the love of her life and watching the downfall of her best friend worth the success? Join Julia in her epic adventure with country music superstar Jake McGrew as she learns what’s truly important in life, love, and success.

Read an excerpt:

"Jake?" I asked as he came within the range of my voice. "Jake McGrew, is that you?" I repeated to the potential doppelganger. He turned around. My jaw dropped.

"Julia?" he said as he squinted at me. "Holy crap! It sure is a small world, isn't it? How are you?" he asked.

He looked as if he hadn't aged a single day, but I wasn't really surprised. I had noticed before that men were qite fortunate in that respect. Once a man hits about 30, his looks seem to instantaneously freeze for decades. He won't age, he doesn't change much, and other than a few inconspicuous and easily hidden grey hairs and abdominal poundage, you would swear he appeared exactly the same as he did ten or more years ago. Mother Nature, with her cruel sense of humor, has determined that a man should "hit the wall" at about 50-55; but the fairer sex loses her battle early in her forties. At that moment, I felt it sucked to be me. I looked every single day of my age.

I shok my head in wonder. "Wow, this is weird, Jake. Weirder than you could ever imagine. Well, obviously, I'm not so great. After all, I'm here, in this awful place, as you can plainly see. Not many normal people come to a place like this to hang out or to have coffee, you know what I mean?" I smiled. Jake didn't. I quickly shook it off. "But all of the sudden, I'm feeling better. I was about to head out.," I told him as I gazed towards the two sliding-glass doors leading out of this unpleasant place.

There was one very significant problem with this conversation - it should never have happened. I had heard through my ex-husband, who wasn't always the most reliable source for anything even mildly true, which happened to be the primary reason he was now my ex - that Jake died about two years ago. Something about an airplane crash. It was even posted on Facebook. Since it was s small plane, there weren't many details. I was devastated. Jake had no family left, and I didn't know how to get in touch with the few friends he had. Plus, Jake lived in Alabama the last time we spoke. What was he doing here in Virginia? This chance meeting made no sense at all. But why would Kyle make something like that up? Pranksters do that to celebrities all the time, but Kyle wasn't much of a prankster. I remember reading Morgan Freeman was dead, but that too was all a hoax. Maybe this was just all some kind of weird misunderstanding.

Available on Amazon

Olivia Black was born in Hollywood, Florida, to a military family. She grew up in Okinawa, London, and Alaska, then returned to Florida in the 1990s. Her first book, "Falling Forward," published in 2013, is a story about finding yourself. Olivia writes with her husband, Kalani, an aspiring songwriter. Olivia's follow-up books include "The Program" and "Mulligan." She is also rewriting The Return of Knecht Ruprecht.

'The Darkness of Light (The Dia Chronicles)' by Tammy Farrell Release Day Blitz!

The Darkness of Light
The Dia Chronicles
Book One
Tammy Farrell
Genre: Historical Fantasy
ISBN-13: 978-1492766582
ISBN-10: 1492766585
Number of pages: 375
Word Count: 90,000
Cover Artist: Nathalia Suellen

Book Description:

The world has long forgotten them, but their descendants live on, not wholly mortal or god, but something in between…

At the dawn of the sixth century, in the aftermath of her mother’s brutal execution, Mara Black is forced to flee the only life she has ever known.

Mara can tell she’s different, but isn't sure why. After she encounters two mysterious strangers, she discovers her secret is but a drop in an ocean of many. She is a Dia, a descendant of ancient gods, and her mother sacrificed herself to protect Mara from their past.

Summoned by an uncle she didn't know existed, Mara thinks she’s found the family she’s always wanted, and Corbin, a love she never thought possible. But not everything is as it seems. Her uncle has other motives for protecting her, and her mentor, Malcolm, becomes so jealous, he’ll do anything to get what he wants.

When tragedy strikes, and the true darkness among them comes to light, Mara discovers that sometimes love can give you everything, and obsession can take it all away. With her powers gone, and destiny calling, she has to look deep within to find the courage to save herself. Mara, along with Corbin and her newfound family, must fight to get back what was taken, or die trying.

Excerpt:

The drums echoed off the walls as Corbin and Malcolm made their way through the back gates of Moorthrop. The guards and villagers were gathered near the green, leaving no one to challenge their entry, or seize their swords.

“We’re too late,” Corbin said through clenched teeth.

“I can see that,” Malcolm responded. “How was I supposed to know we wouldn’t make it in time?”

Corbin bit his tongue. Now was not the time to argue with Malcolm. They had a job to do. As they weaved through the rows of huts, an old woman called out to them. She sat near the door of her hovel, her body hunched with age, and a half-woven basket in her lap. “Here for the execution?” she asked.

Malcolm laughed at the woman with a sneer and continued on. Corbin stopped and looked at her with a tilt of his head; the knuckles of her hands were swollen, and appeared painfully stiff. “Will there be an execution today?” he asked.

She nodded and pointed to the square. “I never saw in all my life such evil as this. Killin’ folks fer nothin'.” She gave a disapproving shake of her head and began to fumble with the basket.

Corbin walked up to her and dropped a coin in her lap. When she glanced down at it, he took hold of both her hands. She gasped as the blue light from his fingertips covered her skin, but in less than a moment he stepped back, and the light vanished. Blinking in amazement, she examined her hands, her fingers spread out like wings, healed from the stiffness that crippled them. She moved her fingers up and down, and then met Corbin’s gaze and asked, “What magic is this?”

Corbin smiled. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Before the old woman could respond, he continued towards the green.

He met up with Malcolm as he approached the edge of the crowd. Malcolm used his energy to move the onlookers aside. The crowd of people wouldn’t know why they moved or even look at the two men moving past them. The power of the veil was a gift to their kind, to protect them from discerning mortal eyes. Most mortals wouldn’t have noticed Corbin much anyway. He looked almost human. But anyone could see that Malcolm, with his white hair and fierce gray eyes, was different, unnatural.

The man in the long black robe bellowed out to the crowd. “By order of King Gerren of the realm of Dumnonia, we are not to tolerate evil among us.” He pointed his finger at the accused woman on the platform. Corbin used his keen sight to examine her. She looked wretched, defeated, and certainly not one of their kind. Could Rowan have been mistaken?

Corbin turned to Malcolm. “Are they charging her with witchcraft?”

Malcolm nodded with a smirk. “It appears that way. Fools. They waste their time looking for witches. They have no idea what walks amongst them.”

Available on Amazon

About the Author:

Tammy Farrell grew up in Orangeville, Ontario Canada where she discovered her love of writing, and all things related to Edgar Allan Poe. She now lives with her husband and four fur babies in Greenville, South Carolina, where she teaches pre-GED English and attempts to learn French when she isn’t busy writing.

www.TammyFarrell.com

@Tamzwrite

Tour wide giveaway
5 paperback copies
a Rafflecopter giveaway

'Untangle My Heart' by Maria K. Alexander

Untangle My Heart
by Maria K. Alexander

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

When her marriage ended in tragedy, Kate DiFrancesco rebuilt her life, but has never gotten over the pain of what she lost. Seeking the help of an ex-lover ignites feelings she’s promised never to have again. She’ll need to untangle herself from dangers in her past in order to break the hard shell around her heart.

Edward Weston has a lot to prove, both to his stuffy upper-crust British family, and to himself. Working alongside Kate, a woman he had a casual relationship with, stirs unexpected feelings. Helping her family makes him realize what he's missing. For the first time, he wants more than a one-night stand.

When Kate is threatened, Edward must overcome feeling unworthy to protect the woman he loves and fight for the family he never thought he’d have.

Read an excerpt:

Edward raised an eyebrow toward her. “Are you sure you’re up for sledding?” he asked, with a glance down at her black high-heeled boots.

She shot him a challenging look. “Only if we race against you.”

“Me?”

“Lucas and I against you. Loser buys dinner.”

He studied her, almost as though he were weighing how he could turn this contest in his favor. Then he turned to Lucas. “Why don’t you grab two sleds, sport, while I negotiate with Kate?”

Lucas nodded and ran off.

Edward hooked his fingers in her jacket pockets and pulled her closer. “How about if I win, you go on a date with me?”

“That’s playing dirty.”

“Very well. You can explain to Lucas why we’re not racing.”

“I can’t do that. Just look at how excited he is.” She nodded over to where Lucas stood waiting for available sleds, jumping up and down and an enthusiastic grin on his face.

“My sled, my rules, or are you afraid you’ll lose?”

He struck a nerve and he knew it. She couldn’t back down from the challenge. Besides, she’d been rethinking the whole not-dating thing and almost convinced herself she was being ridiculous for fighting their attraction. So no matter what happened, she’d figured she’d win.

She met the challenge of his gaze. “One date—and don’t expect sex.”

He attempted to look shocked, but one side of his mouth twitched. “Certainly not.”

“Fine. Be prepared to lose.”

**My thoughts**

Kate and Edward have both dealt with a lot of hardships in their lives, that have caused them to put up shells around themselves. Neither one of them is looking for a long-term relationship, which is understandable. They had a steamy affair over the summer, and then never expected to see each other again. And now Fate seems to have thrust them back together.

They have one heck of a roller coaster ride of emotion with each other. Edward doesn't want to admit that he is in love with Kate and keeps fighting his feelings. But, he is British and stubborn and keeps pushing her. Kate runs hot and cold, often switching mid-conversation. It must be that fiery Italian temper. Some people may find it attractive. I admit that I found her hard to swallow at times. Some of her indecisiveness, though, is understandable, considering her tragic past. She is protective of what is hers and never wants to get hurt again.

A bundle of six year-old joy is the first thing to melt her heart. I admit I got a little teary, myself, throughout parts of this story. Lucas seems much more mature than his six years, especially considering his own tragedies. Some of his actions, such as texting, definitely make him seem older!

Complications arise when Kate is threatened by her past. I liked how this part of the story is present and definitely impacts the relationships, but doesn't dominate the romance and "untangling of the hearts."

Edward and Kate do have a steamy side to their roller coaster relationship, as they untangle their hearts and some clothing, for those who need a little heat in their romance. Definitely a read for the 18+ crowd!

Available on Amazon

FREE for the duration of this tour!

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A romantic at heart, Maria K. Alexander spent hours as a young girl getting lost in and wishing to be one of the heroines in the stories she read. Books gave her the ability to go to another world where she loved meeting new characters, learning about their problems, and watching them fall in love.

Maria blogs and shares her writing journey with her critique partners at: http://thevioletfemmes.com.

When not writing, Maria loves to read, bake, downhill ski, visit the beach, and watch romantic comedies. Maria lives in New Jersey with her husband and children, and writes in her “spare” time between juggling a full-time job and her kids’ busy schedules.

You can keep in touch with her at: http://mariakalexander.com.

Web Links

Website: http://mariakalexander.com
The Violet Femmes Blog: http://thevioletfemmes.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MKAlexander1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maria-K-Alexander-Author/201236689917319
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/mariakalexander

Maria will award a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow the tour for more chances to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal! 'Taking Chances' by Ariadne Wayne

Ariadne Wayne - Taking Chances - Cover Reveal

Contemporary Romance

Date Published: 3/30/2014

Add to Goodreads

Lauren and Mark Burrows lost their parents in a car accident one night. Despite their father being the drunk driver, both struggle with the urge to turn to drink; Lauren most of all. When all they have is each other, Lauren feels lost when Mark falls in love with Cassie Warren and moves out.

Ethan Stone has been alone since his divorce. His ex-wife took him for everything, and he has felt empty for a long time. He's not looking for love, but Lauren brings him back to life. The question is whether she can fight her demons for the man she loves, and if Ethan can handle the wild ride that is life with Lauren.

EXCERPT

Ethan leaned over to kiss her. “I’m looking forward to going to bed too. If I’m invited.” 

She laughed, slapping his arm. “Are you kidding? After all that fuss at the door, you had better bring your A game tonight, Mister.” 

“I don’t know about that, but I could do with loving you some more. We’ll have to leave pretty early. My schedule is full tomorrow.” 

“You still came?” 

“Lauren, I told you. You’re worth the effort. If I have to look for work down here, I will.” 

“I can’t believe anyone would do that for me.” 

“I love you. Even if you don’t feel the same way, I’ll be there when you need me.” 

She kissed him. This man was special, and he was hers. 

“I do feel the same way. My whole life, no-one ever loved me,” she said. 

“I bet that’s a lie. You have such a good heart. Anyone who doesn’t love you isn’t worth knowing.” 

“Can we skip dinner and get to the bed part?” 

Ethan squeezed her hand. “Not after the effort I put in. Maybe afterwards.” 

“Well, you can’t wash the dishes. There’s no hot water left.” 

“You didn’t leave any for me?” 

Lauren draped her arms over Ethan’s shoulders. “No. You should have joined me.” 

“Next time, beautiful.” 

She looked away, not wanting to meet his gaze. “What is it, Lauren?” 

“No-one’s ever called me that before.” 

    “Well, get used to it.”

Author Links

Website | Facebook | Twitter

This Cover Reveal is brought to to you by Reading Addiction Book Tours

Cover Reveal! 'Without You' by Julie Prestater

When two people connect, they can make beautiful music together. But what happens when music is the thing that tears them apart?

Evan James had it all. Drop-dead sexy, brilliantly talented musician, a skyrocketing career and his high school sweetheart by his side. When he’s offered a golden opportunity to go on tour, he never imagined she wouldn’t go with him. Without her, he found his dream meant nothing. Three years later, bereft and alone, Evan stops at an open mic night and spots someone sitting in the audience, the beautiful face of a woman he’d never forget...Maddy, his one true love.

Madison Grey had only ever loved one man. When Evan broke her heart she had no choice but to move on with her life, start a career of her own, and she even finds a new love. Still, thoughts of Evan were never put to rest. And on one fateful night, she unexpectedly hears him pour his heart out into a new song. A song about broken hearts, lost love, and second chances. A song about her.

With the help of their scheming friends, Maddy and Evan are thrown into each other’s lives once more. While learning to love and trust again, there is only one thing left on both of their minds... Is life better with or without you?

About Julie:

Julie is a high school teacher by day, and a writer by night. She writes both young adult and adult romances. When she's not writing, she can be found out and about with her family, reading, and watching football. As a reading intervention teacher, she prides herself on matching her students with great books to encourage them to become life-long readers.

Julie has written five young adult books which are all available now:

The Double Threat Series
-So I'm A Double Threat
-Double Threat My Bleep
-Double Time
-Double Threats Forever

You Act So White

Julie has also written five adult romance novels:

More Than A Friend Request

Against The Wall
-Between The Sheets (Against The Wall #2)
-Straddling The Edge (Against The Wall #3)
-Playing Chase (Against The Wall #4)

Stalker links:

Website: http://juliepbooks.com/
Fan Page Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliepbooks
Friend Page Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004189064551
Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliepbooks
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4087383.Julie_Prestsater
Instagram: http://instagram.com/juliepbooks

Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway to win 1 of 5 $5 Amazon cards!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Brought to you by the Release Day Diva

 

'Wallace Park: A Memoir' by Eddie Regory

Blurb:

Seeking refuge from the projects in New York City, Eddie's parents send him to Portland, Oregon, where he is introduced to a life full of parks, sports, and single-family homes. Here, he teams up with his best friend, Ed, to explore the meaning of adolescence. Their friendship evolves, though, as Ed pushes the boundaries of risky behavior, and all Eddie can do is watch. Filled with enticing sports play-by-plays, thrilling fight scenes, and aw-inducing love motifs, Wallace Park tells a unique yet universal story of adversity highlighted with friendship and love.

Read an excerpt:

Part One

Chapter 1

New York City—Lower East Manhattan

The horrifying scream became louder as I groggily awakened. I didn’t know what was happening and was terrified to discover what these screams were. Maybe it was a dream, I thought, glancing over to my twin brother, Joey, who was still sleeping. I froze as the blanket covered my frightened body. The spineless hesitation I felt about climbing from my mattress, however, would soon diminish as I gradually slipped off the edge of the bed. I made my way toward the bedroom doorknob. As I inched closer, the screams reverberated off the apartment walls and grew disturbingly louder. I slowly creaked open the door and heard my mother begging, “No, Michael, no!”

I looked down at the floor and saw a line of blood drops leading toward the kitchen. Barely awake, I followed the puddled drops and saw my mother’s little body moving from side to side as she extended her arms to block the front door so my brother Michael wouldn’t get out.

“No, Michael! No. You don’t need to do this.”

“Mom, just move. Please!”

Mom begged in her accented English, “No, Michael! My God! Please, Michael, God, please!”

“Mom, please!”

Michael’s forehead was masked with blood dripping profusely over his eyes and face. I had never witnessed this much blood and could not understand why it was happening.

“Please, Michael! Sit down. I’ll clean your head, and it will all be forgotten.”

“No, Mom. I can’t!”

“You can, baby. You can,” Mom said. “Please, sit down!”

“No, Mom! I’m gonna kill ’im!” Michael yelled before he dashed toward the kitchen drawer and grabbed a butcher knife, scattering the roaches off the utensils.

He yanked the kitchen window open, leaped out, and disappeared through the next window over, into the building hallway five stories up. Mom tried to stop him, but he was too strong.

I started to cry, mostly for my mom.

She prayed to God, “Ay! Dios mío, Dios, por favor salva a mi hijo!”

“Mom!” I cried, running toward her. “Mom! What happened?”

“Oh! Dios mío!” Mom prayed aloud.

“Mom? Where’d Michael go? What happened to Michael?”

“Oh, Dios! My baby!”

I pulled Mom’s apron, even though it was spotted with blood, and said, “Mom, Mom, it’s okay, it’s okay—Michael will come back.”

Mom’s eyes were bloodshot as tears streamed down her cheeks, her body exhausted from worrying about Michael’s fate. She struggled toward the kitchen table and sat there quietly. Confused, I stood beside her trying to soothe the pain she felt in her heart, stroking her long black hair with my shaky hand.

She rocked herself back and forth like you would a baby in your arms, and with her hands over her face, she uttered, “God will be with my Michael. God will watch him.”

Buy links

Currently rated 4.9 out of 5 *s!

Bio:

I'm originally from New York City but consider myself a Portland, Oregon native. I love all movies including the stupid ones (life's too short not to try them) going on long bike rides, animals but especially dogs. I am self-employed and constantly thinking of ways to make others feel better about themselves. I'm married to my grade school sweetheart, Hazel for 23 years and have a 10 year old daughter, Eliana and a white dog named Blanco.



Visit Eddie's website:  http://www.wallaceparkmemoir.com/

Cover Reveal! 'Blue Rose (a Flowering novel)' by Sarah Daltry

Blue Rose Packet

Cover Picture:

Book Info:

Title: Blue Rose, a Flowering novel

Author: Sarah Daltry

Release Date: 2/1/2014

Publisher: SDE Press

Cover Design: Shoutlines Design

 Blurb:

“Four. My life has been shaped by four people. Four men, to be more specific. My father, my stepfather, my best friend, and my boyfriend. The first two shaped it in horrible ways, but what I am, who I am, is all because of four men.”
Alana Reardon has secrets. Some of them are too dark to tell, but everyone already thinks they know anyhow. At 20, she takes too many pills, hides the parts of her that she hates, and willingly becomes the person that they think she is. A slut. A whore. Trash.

There have only been two guys who ever saw Alana as more: Jack, the guy she can’t get over, and Dave, the one who never got over her.

With the help of therapy, facing her past, and the inevitable ways that life changes without your permission, can Alana learn to stop blaming herself? Can she allow love into her life? Is she ready to move on?

Warning: This book deals with topics of abuse and may trigger reactions in people who have experienced those things in their own lives.

Excerpt:

Later that day, at lunch, I had just found a seat by the window when he sat across from me. I was used to sitting alone. He didn’t say anything, and he had nothing to eat. He looked up at me, though, after a few minutes, and his eyes did it again. I hated my body, hated the way I looked, hated that somehow I owed my body and my looks to everyone else. But when Jack looked at me, I wanted to let someone touch me. I wanted him to hold me. He felt like safety.

It didn’t even make sense. He was just a broken kid, like me. He always wore the same threadbare hoodie. Most days, it covered his head. He was cute, but awkward. His hair was too long and usually greasy. His Chucks were a little too big, so they looked a little like clown shoes. Yet those gorgeous eyes were all I cared about. I hadn’t considered guys at all. I didn’t find them attractive, and I certainly couldn’t see the appeal of sex or of intimacy. With Jack, though, the thought of him near me didn’t make me nauseous.

“Do you want my orange?” I asked him.

“Are you sure?”

It wasn’t a groundbreaking question. But it was how I knew that what I naturally felt for Jack was right. Because no one had ever asked me that. No one had asked if I minded, if I was sure, if something was okay. They just took things.

“Yeah.”

He took it and I handed him my knife. It was flimsy plastic and wouldn’t even pierce the rind, so I took the orange back and peeled it with my fingernails. Jack just watched me and, when I handed him the orange, now peeled, he smiled. His upper lip curled more than it should have and he looked silly, smiling at an orange. But he drew the same smile from me.

“Thank you,” he said, and he pulled two slices free from the whole and handed them back to me. I didn’t eat them right away. I just watched him eat his part. He was messy and he ended up covering himself in the juices. He unzipped his hoodie after the orange squirted down the front. Underneath, he was wearing a washed out blue T-shirt with a train on it. He looked ten.

“Nice shirt,” I teased.

He looked down. “I live with my grandmother. She has no concept of clothes.”

“It’s cute.”

He smiled again and it was less awkward this time. “Do you live with your grandmother, too?”

I was wearing a huge black sweater over baggy black pants. “No. I just… I don’t like people looking at me.”

“Yeah. I get that.”

He didn’t tell me that I was too pretty to dress the way I did; he didn’t say my body was too good to hide. He just went back to eating his orange, letting the juice spill all over the train shirt. We were fourteen, but I already knew Jack would always be the only thing that mattered in my future.

Buy Links:

Coming Soon

About The Author:

Sarah Daltry writes about the regular people who populate our lives. She's written works in various genres - romance, erotica, fantasy, horror. Genre isn't as important as telling a story about people and how their lives unfold. Sarah tends to focus on YA/NA characters but she's been known to shake it up. Most of her stories are about relationships - romantic, familial, friendly - because love and empathy are the foundation of life. It doesn't matter if the story is set in contemporary NY, historical Britain, or a fantasy world in the future - human beings are most interesting in the ways they interact with others. This is the principle behind all of Sarah's stories.

Sarah has spent most of her life in school, from her BA and MA in English and writing to teaching both at the high school and college level. She also loves studying art history and really anything because learning is fun.

When Sarah isn't writing, she tends to waste a lot of time checking Facebook for pictures of cats, shooting virtual zombies, and simply staring out the window.

Author Social Media Links:

Website: http://sarahdaltry.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahDaltryAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahDaltry
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sarahdaltry/boards/
Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/sarahdaltry

Playlist: 

Link:  http://hypster.com/hypsterPlayer/MPL?media_type=playlist&playlist_id=6787810&us_id=4993560

Trailer:

Link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pScDX8_ANOg